Macaroni penguins have distinctive yellow feather crests on their foreheads. The yellow-crested penguins, which moult once a year, were named after the hats with feathers worn by dandy men in the 18th Century which were called macaronis.
Their habitat is usually mountains and snow-covered rocky areas with little vegetation or soil. When inhabiting warmer areas, dirt, mud or vegetation may cover the surface of the land where they live. Therefore, they can walk and jump over large slippery rocks that rise in the costs without a problem.
Their largest colonies locate on islands such as South Georgia, Kerguelen, Heard, McDonald, Crozet and Marion Islands.
It is a migratory, aggressive and territorial penguin; males often become involved in fights with other individuals in the colony.
In some colonies, they stay near the coast, diving to a depth of 66 feet and stay submerged for two or three minutes to get food. They are proficient swimmers using their long tail as a rudder, and they have excellent underwater vision.
Besides the vocalizations, Macaroni species communicate with body movements used according to the situation. Grooming and care for their plumage, like all penguins, is essential at the moment of interaction to engage in social relations.
Credit : Penguins World
Picture Credit : Google
